Cost of Living Comparison Between Jizan and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Jizan and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,005 per month in Jizan vs $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,595 per month in Jizan vs $2,184 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,185 per month in Jizan vs $3,082 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Jizan is about 22% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Jizan and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Jizan 25% lower, Playa del Carmen 4% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.59 SAR 24.71

$11.94 MX$209

-44.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.92 SAR 101

$42.75 MX$748

-37.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.48 SAR 24.31

$10.59 MX$185

-38.81%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.77 SAR 6.64

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.84 SAR 6.90

Cappuccino

$3.30 SAR 12.39

$3.62 MX$63.4

-8.84%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 SAR 2.60

$1.47 MX$25.69

-53.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.19 SAR 0.73

$0.94 MX$16.51

-79.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.09 MX$54.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.46 MX$78.0

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 SAR 6.19

$1.43 MX$24.94

15.38%

White Bread (500g)

$0.93 SAR 3.50

$1.88 MX$32.97

-50.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.00 SAR 7.49

$1.63 MX$28.50

22.70%

Eggs

$2.61 SAR 9.77

$2.64 MX$46.26

-1.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.20 SAR 27.02

$8.21 MX$144

-12.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.57 SAR 20.88

$8.29 MX$145

-32.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.96 SAR 59.9

$11.10 MX$194

43.78%

Apples (1kg)

$1.85 SAR 6.94

$2.65 MX$46.40

-30.19%

Banana (1kg)

$1.39 SAR 5.20

$1.50 MX$26.26

-7.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 SAR 6.12

$1.99 MX$34.79

-18.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.23 SAR 4.61

$2.08 MX$36.33

-40.87%

Potato (1kg)

$1.09 SAR 4.07

$1.79 MX$31.29

-39.11%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 SAR 4.11

$2.18 MX$38.09

-49.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.12 SAR 4.20

$1.08 MX$18.84

3.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 SAR 1.94

$1.04 MX$18.15

-50.00%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.57 SAR 5.88

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 SAR 6.36

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 SAR 7.87

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.16 SAR 26.85

$3.97 MX$69.5

80.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.20 MX$179

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 MX$30.22

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 MX$43.71

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.10 SAR 4.12

$0.52 MX$9.07

111.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.29 SAR 151

$26.97 MX$472

49.39%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.64 SAR 9.90

$3.14 MX$55.0

-15.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.85 SAR 6.94

$2.40 MX$42.04

-22.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.36 SAR 50.1

$3.09 MX$54.0

332.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 SAR 2.38

$1.27 MX$22.28

-49.61%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$26.9K SAR 100.7K

$30.9K MX$540.4K

-13.01%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$22.6K SAR 84.9K

$23.3K MX$408.0K

-2.89%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$88.9 SAR 333

$82.0 MX$1,435

8.38%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$36.57 SAR 137

$22.45 MX$393

62.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$73.3 SAR 275

$29.66 MX$519

146.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$87.9 SAR 330

$51.9 MX$908

69.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.79 SAR 134

$18.67 MX$327

91.70%

Cinema Ticket

$15.51 SAR 58.2

$4.97 MX$87.0

212.07%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$131 SAR 490

$198 MX$3,462

-33.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,346 SAR 12.5K

$5,273 MX$92.3K

-36.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.84 SAR 108

$36.34 MX$636

-20.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.50 SAR 174

$40.05 MX$701

16.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.6 SAR 295

$79.9 MX$1,398

-1.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.5 SAR 313

$88.9 MX$1,555

-6.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$319 SAR 1,196

$963 MX$16.9K

-66.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$228 SAR 855

$465 MX$8,133

-50.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$504 SAR 1,888

$1,596 MX$27.9K

-68.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$473 SAR 1,775

$1,209 MX$21.2K

-60.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$804 SAR 3,017

$3,942 MX$69.0K

-79.59%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,448 MX$112.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,625 SAR 6,093

$720 MX$12.6K

125.55%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.42

11.42

-61.30%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Jizan: April 28, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $319 in Jizan versus $963 in Playa del Carmen. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 126% higher in Jizan, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $27.00 in Jizan versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $251 – making Jizan the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Jizan vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Playa del Carmen costs about 28% more than Jizan, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,508 per month in Jizan and $1,930 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Jizan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,005 in Jizan and $1,287 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 49% less in Jizan. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Jizan, where all-in costs run around $1,005, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. In Jizan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Jizan costs $1,005 versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Jizan. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Carmen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.